Discussion for Middlemarch-Book 4(Three Love Problems) end with Chp. 34

[Lisa, the usurper]

This is the discussion thread for the fourth book of Middlemarch.

[Lesley]

Book IV has less detailed description with greater character interaction giving a more flowing read. The themes of money, politics, marriage, jealousy, rumour and insinuation abound - all normal behaviours of a Victorian community.

I detected a slightly mocking tone in Eliot's writing of Lydgate and Rosamond's considerations of marriage. Where Rosamond's chief concerns about marrying are the wedding clothes - "she can't be married without this handkerchief," Mary says, in a playful tone to bring attention to Rosamond's folly.

Money is a theme of importance meaning different things to different people. To Fred it appears when he needs it, while the Garths see it as something precious to save for worthwhile causes. Featherstone uses it for power.

I enjoyed this book and intended to just dip into book V, however I have found myself at the end of Book V already.

[Casceil]

So what did you think about the whole business with Featherstone having two wills, and the final result in who got what turning on Mary's refusal to get the will he wanted to burn out for him? I thought that part seemed just a little too contrived. Mary's refusal to help a dying man or even fetch someone who would just did not make sense to me.

[Lesley]

To Featherstone his wealth gave him power which he used to manipulate people. He kept the existence of Rigg hidden, but manipulated him with the promise of inheritance. He did the same with Fred. I think Mary, who loves Fred, saw Featherstone’s manipulation of him partly to blame for Fred’s gambling debts, and so a cause of her family’s financial hardships. Why did Featherstone have two Wills – to use in manipulating people giving him power over them? He seems to have had very little else.
On the outside Mary appears plain, modest, and uncomplicated, but underneath she is wise and has a moral uprightness which is why she resists the temptation of the money Featherstone is trying to bribe her with. She also doubts Featherstone is in his right mind with his acting “like an aged hyena” so is scared to do anything she considers as morally wrong.
Another aspect is whether deep down Mary sees this as poetic revenge against Featherstone's contribution to Fred’s gambling debt and her family’s financial troubles.
I am not sure which of these scenarios Eliot is trying to convey - if either. What do you think?

[Casceil]

I don't know. You're giving Mary more credit than I did. I thought she was being the "good woman" who would not be the last one to handle Featherstone's papers, but maybe she did doubt his sanity at that point. I think Eliot was setting up a deliberate irony, that the result of Mary doing what Mary thought was right was that Fred lost his inheritance.